President Bola Tinubu congratulates Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), on the award of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership.

Dr. Adesina joins the pantheon of other previous winners of the award such as Nigeria’s Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka; former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, and lawyer-educationist, Chief Afe Babalola.

President Tinubu commends the AfDB President for his visionary and noble endeavour to transform agriculture in Africa and ensure food security on the continent, recalling the growth enhancement schemes revolutionizing Nigeria’s agriculture value chains he introduced as the then Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The President acknowledges Dr. Adesina’s unblemished records, tried and tested integrity, as well as his immense leadership and development strides, particularly in agriculture, efforts of which have earned him numerous honours and recognition globally, including the World Food Prize in 2017.

President Tinubu wishes the AfDB President more success at AfDB and strength in his service to Africa and to humanity at large.

Dr. Adekunle Pinmiloye mostly known as Ksticks holds a PhD degree in Music performance, and a post-doctoral diploma course in Audio Engineering/Live Music Production from the Musicians Institute, Hollywood, Los Angeles. United States.

Pinmiloye lectured music at the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife, Nigeria. He is the first music director to adapt Christmas Carol tunes in African context. (Daystar popular Carol concert, Lagos, Nigeria), The Carol concert became the largest Carol gathering in Nigeria for many years and a standard for many music directors till date.

Dr. Pinmiloye is a renowned Drum and Music Instructor, (Music Producer live concerts), Author and Music Director with almost 4 decades of rich and awe-inspiring, multi-cultural musical influences spreading across local and global boundaries.

Ksticks was the first drummer in Nigeria to specialize on drum performance from first degree to PhD level. He was the first civilian to perform with the Nigerian Navy Concert Band, the first price winner of the Talent Hunt at the maiden edition of MUSON festival.

Ksticks has conducted several seminars on drums and facilitated music workshops across many institutions in Africa UAE and United States.

Ksticks directed the RCCG Festival of Live Conference at the West Angeles Cathedral Church, California.

In August 2023, He directed and conducted a fusion of African ensemble and orchestra at the novel edition of Season of Praise August 2023 at the Bowie Performing Art Theatre. Maryland. USA

In June 2023, Ksticks conducted the mass choir of the RCCG North America choir at the convention ground Dallas, Texas.

In September 2022, He directed and conducted a fusion of African ensemble and orchestra, at the Sound from Africa concert. Houston Texas.

Ksticks’s recent personal project was the breadth-taken maiden edition of Kross Kulture Musical worship concert at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, Los Angeles. This is the first ever gospel musical artistry that combines singers and musicians of divers nationalities and culture, spanning round six continents on one stage.

Ksticks performed and coordinated drum ensemble performance for the stage play “ The Wedlock of The gods” at the University of Southern California USC. 2022.

Beyond musical artistry, Dr. Pinmiloye has presented couple of academic papers at the institutes of African Studies, University of Georgia, Atlanta. Among several drum clinics and seminars are 2 major drum workshops at the Musicians Institutes Los Angeles, drum workshop and drum monologue at the University of Texas, Arlington, Forney elementary high school, Dallas.

He was the creative director of the 2021 HAPAWARD Award held at Orpheum theater, Los Angeles. In 2019, Ksticks conducted and produced ICCLA Sound of Christmas carol concert at the Redondo Beach Performing Art Centre.

He is the founder and director of Kross Kulture Musical. Also, the music director, International Christian Centre Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Pinmiloye is an independent researcher with area of interest in drum language communication.

Project in view: God of Kross Kulture Worship Concert 2024.

The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON has expressed her readiness to partner with the United Nations and its sister agencies to address various areas of concern including role of women in public life, increased participation in economy, ending gender based violence, child labor and the scourge of out school children.

This was when the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Matthias Schmale and his team paid her a courtesy visit at the State House Abuja.

Mr. Schmale promised on behalf of his organization to collaborate with the office of the First Lady knowing her antecedents especially in the areas of Women and Children.

He said the UN is aware of President Bola Tinubu’s stand on improving on the economic situation in the country and the UN is in support of this.

“One issue is the role of women in public life and we are very keen on it as you. We offer our support significantly in increasing the number of women in public life in Nigeria.

“Secondly, it is our understanding that the president has made the economy an important stone, again we know that women play a key role in the economy considering food and security as a national emergency.

“We are ready to explore what more we can do to support the government and your excellence in increasing the role of women in the economy and revitalizing the economy.
Schmale further said that the UN would support the first lady in ensuring that issues like polio, out-of-school children, child labor and violent against women are brought to the minimal level.

“The third issue is violent, former president Mohammadu Buhari had in 3-years ago declared violence against women and children a national emergency, again we are offering support to the UN family in overcoming this emergency.

“Finally, there are issues around children, that we think are of particular importance, the issue of school children out of learning environment and the issue of over 15million children under the age of 14 in child labour in Nigeria obviously needs attention.

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu in her response said her office is ready to accept the UN offer saying all they have stated are areas she remains passionate about and they are of importance to her.
She said her National Programme, Renewed Hope Initiative is also taking all the issues into cognizance.
She advised women should also stop looking down on themselves but improve on themselves.

“I want more women in the decision making positions like legislative arms because if laws are not changed, this would be the same game continuously.

“However, are the women ready to sacrifice? We are the ones that need to stand to help ourselves.

“Education is very vital and I don’t believe that a woman cannot get all that she wants once she is educated but our focus on education is for all both boys and girls and even less privileged women